Rockies manager Jim Tracy will enter next season in the final year of his contract, and neither he, nor his boss, believe it’s an issue.

“Jim is signed through next year, and we’d love to have him be manager here for much longer than that. But I have gone into the last year of my contract here more than you could imagine,” general manager Dan O’Dowd told The Denver Post today. “I think it’s a big deal because you guys sometimes make it a big deal and I understand that.

“But a contract is a contract. We made a commitment that we are definitely going to fulfill.”

Tracy signed a three-year contract following the Rockies’ 2009 playoff appearance. Tracy has been in this position before, prior to the 2004 season, when the Dodgers responded by winning the National League West.

“I don’t concern myself with that, simply put. I don’t have any problem with that,” Tracy told the Post today. “Those are decisions that are completely out of my jurisdiction and I don’t concern myself with that one bit. I’ve gone through this before. It’s not something I fret.”

O’Dowd said his confidence in Tracy hasn’t wavered. In fact, for the first time since he became a general manager in 1999, O’Dowd is going to let his manager make the final decision on the coaching staff. Tracy has not held any discussions yet with his coaches, but he has full authority to make moves as he sees fit.

“I am turning that over to Jim. He should have a much better feel of his staff than I do. He’s watched them teach, watched them participate in the meetings,” O’Dowd said. “That’s his call.”

Troy is a former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role ahead of the 2015 season. He left The Post in 2015.

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